How to Avoid Mold After a Water Damage

Although water is soothing, too much of it can cause mold and stress you out. Taking care of a flooded basement, moldy drywall, or mildewed grout is not enjoyable. It is best to leave this operation to the experts because DIY mold removal might cost thousands of dollars in additional restoration and repair costs.

Here are some tips for preventing water damage and the growth of mold as well as how to handle them if they happen.

How Mold Develops Following Water Exposure

Mold isn’t caused by just one thing. Mold may form because of water damage when there is a mix of water, food, temperature, and time.

• Water. Mold can only be grown with water, either in liquid or airborne form. Mold will develop more readily in areas with 80% or higher humidity levels. It’s important to remove standing water and moisture quickly.
• Food. Sometimes, organic products like drywall paper’s wood content, dust, dirt, glues, and other loose debris are called “food” for mold growth.
• Temperature. Mold often can not develop at temperatures below 80 ° F.
• Time. After water damage, mold does not appear right away. A few weeks may pass before the mold appears under specific conditions.
• Oxygen. For mold to develop, oxygen is necessary. But ample ventilation will dry out the area and prevent mold growth.

Can You Eliminate The Mold Yourself?

Homeowners should avoid cleaning the mold independently, which can spread airborne spores from heating and air conditioning systems. There are many ways to eliminate mold, but they are typically for surface-level mold and not for mold in areas that have been damaged by water. Call a property restoration in Mobile, AL, to correctly address your mold issue.

How to Adequately Address Mold Issues?

Follow these instructions to prevent mold development from starting in the first place.

Regulate Indoor Temperature

Mold and mildew may be avoided by regulating moisture. The worst infestations typically develop in wet crawl spaces, attics, and walls where outside water has seeped into basements with inadequate foundation drainage. The most efficient defenses include the following:

• Keeping crawl spaces dry
• Avoiding leaks
• Guaranteeing ample attic ventilation
• Rerouting water away from the foundation

Take the Worst Contaminants First

Know the difference between clear, gray, and black water damage. Despite appearing clean, clear water still has microbes in it. Gray water is dirtier from sinks, showers, and washing machines. The dirtiest water is black because it contains human or animal waste. Before dealing with the gray and clear water damage, try to clean up any present black water damage. Check out this page if you need professional help with water damage restoration.

Allow Your Home to Dry Out

Air your house while waiting for a suitable professional to fix your flooding. All windows and doors should be left open, several fans should be installed to push humid air outside, and dehumidifiers should be left running for at least a few days. To reduce the frequency of emptying, look for a humidifier with a bigger container that can hold 60 or more quarts of water daily.

Hire a Professional

Air ducts, walls, and carpets can all serve as hiding places for mold. Avoid turning on your HVAC system if you suspect it has been affected. Hire a professional to look over and clean your unit. Hiring an experienced mold removal company in your area to evaluate the problem and swiftly restore it to a normal, dry condition is the best option if water damage or a mold problem feels out of control.

Conclusion

While you might believe that using fans and wet-dry vacuums will help you dry out your water-damaged areas, we’ve found that most homeowners only partially dry out the areas. Employing a specialist to dry out the water-damaged areas is recommended because they often deal with mold prevention and cleanup in addition to drying out moist areas with specialist equipment. The expense of professionally drying water-damaged areas is often nearly covered by insurance.